Multiple-bolt locking device.



PATENTED DEC. 12, 1905.

T. H. BAUER.

MULTIPLE BOLT LOCKING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR=24, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 12, 1905.

Application filed March 24, 1905. Serial No. 251,827.

To all whmn it may concern.-

Be it known that LTHEoDoR H. BAUER, a citizen of the United States, residing at Middletown, in the county of Butler and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Multiple-Bolt Locking Device, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to means for locking covers or closures to boxes, cases, crates, and the like. It is not, however, necessarily limited to this use, as the same may be advantageously employed in other relations as, for instance, for securing doors.

The principal object is to provide locking means of the above character and of a novel nature whereby the closure may be thoroughly locked in closed or operative position and the locking means is securely maintained in action and against accidental displacement. At the same time said means can be readily released and operated by a simple form of key, the engagement of which with the locking mechanism eflects the disengagement of the holding means from said locking mechanism to permit the operation thereof.

The preferred form of construction is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a box, showing the cover or closure thrown back and illustrating the locking mechanism. a Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view through the same with the cover locked in operative position upon the box. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view therethrough. Fig. A is a horizontal sectional view on the line 4 A of Fig. 2, the locking mechanism being shown in bottom plan view. Fig. 5 is a detail sectional bolt-receiving seats or openings 10, the walls being cut away, as shown at 11, in rear of said seats. The cover 12 is adapted to fit upon the open top of the box-body, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and carries the locking mechanism, which mechanism is preferably constructed as follows: A base-plate 13 is secured by suitable fasteners 14 to the inner or under face of the closure. and mounted in guides 15 are sets of oppositely-movable sliding bolts 16, the outer ends of which are arranged to engage in the bolt-receiving seats 10 of the holding-plates. Betweenthe oppositely-moving bolts and located at right angles thereto is an actuating device in the form of a bar 17 slidable longitudinally of the base 13 and held in place by guides 18. The opposite margins of the actuating-bar are provided with recesses 19, the inner walls of which are inclined, as shown at 20, and are adapted to receive the inner ends of the bolts when the same are retracted, said ends being inclined to correspond to the inclination of the walls 20, as shown in Fig. 1. The bolts are connected to the actuating-bar by means of sets of oppositelyextending links 21, each set being pivoted by a common pin 22 to the bar and said links having their outer ends pivotally connected, as shown at 23, to the inner ends of the bolts. It will thus be seen that when the bar is moved longitudinally in one direction the links will be brought into alinement and the bolts thrown outwardly, as shown in Fig. 4, and when said bar is moved in the opposite direction the links of each set will be moved into angular relation and the bolts retracted, as illustrated in Fig. 1. A key-such, for instance, as that illustrated in Fig. 6may be employed for eflectin-g the movement'of the actuating-bar, this key consisting of a shank 24, having a handle 25 at one end, a stop-collar'26between its ends, and the end of said shank opposite the handle 25 being offset, as shown at 27. This ofl'set end is adapted to be passed through an opening28 in one end of the box and be received in an opening 29 formed in the adjacent end of the actuatingbar, said opening thus constituting a key-receiving socket. A flange 3O partially surrounds the receiving-socket 29 and constitutes an abutment or guide for directing the offset end 27 of the key into the said socket.

Secured to the rear side of the base 13, preferably by means of a rivet 31, is a leafspring 32, arranged transversely of the base and moving in a recessed seat 33, formed in the closure. This spring carries at its free end an outstanding tooth or dog 34, passing through an opening in the base and arranged to engage in the key-receiving socket 29 when the bolts are projected, the dog thus retaining the actuating bar against retrograde movement, and thereby maintaining the bolts in projected relation.

It is thought that the operation of the mechanism can now be made clear. Assuming the bolts in retracted position, as shown in Fig. 1, the cover or closure is placed upon the box, the key is inserted through the opening 28, and the offset end is engaged in the socket 29. The actuating-bar is then moved longitudinally to bring the links 21 into alinement, whereupon the bolts will be projected, their outer ends will enter the seats or openings 10, and consequently the cover or closure will be securely locked in operative position. When the key is withdrawn, the dog 34:, under the action of the spring 32, will be moved outwardly and engaging in the keyreceiving socket 29 will in turn lock the actuating-bar against movement. To release the closure, it is only necessary to reinsert the key, and when the offset end 27 is engaged in the socket the holding-dog 34 will of course be disengaged from the same, Thereupon the actuating-bar 17 is drawn outwardly and the bolts retracted, leaving the closure loose upon the box or case, so that it may be readily removed therefrom.

From the foregoing it is thought that the construction, operation, and many advantages of the herein-described invention will be apparent to those skilled in the art Without further description, and it will be understood that various changes in the size, shape, proportion, and minor details of construction may be resorted to without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. In mechanism of the class described, the

combination with a closure, of a bolt slidably.

mounted thereon, an actuating-bar also slidably mounted on the closure in rear of the bolt and having a recess that receives the rear end thereof, the recess having an inclined wall and the said rear end being likewise inclined and movable'into and out of the recess, and. a link pivotally connected to the bolt in advance of its rear end and to the bar.

2. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a closure, of oppositelymovable bolts slidably mounted on the closure, a sliding actuating-bar disposed between the bolts in angular relation thereto and having recesses in its opposite edges that receive the rear ends of the bolts, sets of links pivotally connected to the bolts in advance of the portions that are received in the recesses, and a common pivotal device for connecting the links of each set to the bar.

3. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a closure, of a base-plate secured thereto, oppositely-extending sets of bolts mounted on the base-plate, guides for 5 combination with a closure, ofv a locking-bolt therefor, an actuating device for the bolt having a key-receiving socket, and a holding-dog movable into and out of the key-receiving socket and engaging the walls of said socket to hold the actuating device against movement.

5. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a closure, of a locking-bolt therefor, an actuating-bar for the bolt slidably mounted on the closure and having an opening constituting a key-receiving socket, and a spring-pressed holding-dog mounted on the closure and movable into and out of the key-receiving socket and engaging the walls of said socket to maintain the bar against its sliding movement.

6. In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a closure, of a base mounted thereon, bolts slidably mounted on the base, an actu ating-bar slidably mounted on the base in angular relation to the bolts, said bar having a key-receiving opening in one end, a spring mounted on the base, and a dog pivotally mounted on the base and secured to the spring, said dog being movable into the keyreceiving opening and engaging the walls thereof to hold the bar against movement when said bar is in a predetermined position and being furthermore moved out of said opening when the key is inserted therein.

7 In mechanism of the class described, the combination with a closure, of a base mounted thereon, oppositely-extending bolts slidably mounted on the base, an actuating-bar located at right angles between the bolts and slidably mounted on the base, said bar having a keyreceiving opening in one end, links pivotally connecting the bar and bolts, and a springpr'essed dog secured to the rear side of the base and being movable into the opening when the bar is in a predetermined position and engaging the walls of said opening to hold said bar in said predetermined position.

8. In mechanism of the class described, the

combination with a box or case having opposite side walls provided with spaced recesses, of curved holding-plates secured to the'opposite walls of the case and having terminals located over the recesses and provided with boltreceiving seats, a closure for the box or case, sliding bolts mounted on the under side of the closure and being movable into the bolt-receiving seats, means located between the bolts for moving the same in opposite directions, and a key arranged to be passed through the box or case and engage said actuating means.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own 1 have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

v THEODOR H. BAUER.

Witnesses:

ROBERT A. KAsU, B. HARWITZ. 

